German rugby league takes the next step towards a successful RLIF application

Whilst it might not be the most popular sport in Germany, it is one on the rise, with rugby league in Germany receiving a boost – after RL Deutschland confirmed a new Board of Directors has been appointed, with Benedikt Rehm to be be the President.

Rehm, who is a former international and a full-time lover of the game of rugby league, will replace Max Schoengen who was appointed in 2011, and is hoping to kick-start the German campaign to have an application by the RLIF accepted and have an official RL federation in the country.

â€œWe are now looking forward to achieving, for the first time, legal status in Germany and, hopefully, a successful [RLIF] application for SportAccord recognition in Lausanne that will take us closer to obtaining an official federation here in 2014,â€ Rehm said.

â€œWe have adopted a new constitution to achieve these aims, we are optimistic and 2013 will be the busiest year yet for rugby league in Germany.â€

Uwe Jansen will return as Vice President, Ulrich Scholz as Treasurer as well as newcomers in, Daniel Isen, Katharina Frey – the first woman elected to the governing body – and Georg Frey.

Several youth and development games have already been scheduled in and around Germany and other European countries, in what is only the start for German rugby league.